Packaging receptacle with latching handle



May 23, 1950 R. J. EVANS ET AL PACKAGING RECEPTACLE WITH LATCHING HANDLE4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 2, 1949 5 NM I 2 z V U a c 2 cm Q E maa W el 0 J m Q1 m m m Wm n 0 m1 7 c I. h 3 Q (9 m n 8 n M a m "26 u z. u H 6Y 1 m E m M a B m m u m a M w W i m J m m m n f \A o c M .3 Q a Z 1G1 f9 L f, 3 2 4 i w 6 T/ 3/ w Q THE/R ATTORA [Y R. J. EVANS ET AL PACKAGINGRECEPTACLE WITH LATCHING HANDLE May 23, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledMarch 2, 1949 INVENTOR. RICH/1R0 J. EVA/V5 THE/R ATTORNEY May 23, 1950R. J. EVANS ET AL PACKAGING RECEPTACLE WITH LATCHING HANDLE 4Shets-Sheet 5 Filed March 2, 1949 3 4 iuvliill|a INVENTOR. RICHARD JEVA/V5 JAMES '5 5ARROW May 23, 1950 R. J. EVANS ET AL PACKAGINGRECEPTACLE WITH LATCI-liNG HANDLE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 2, l 949INVENTOR. R/cHA/eo J EVAN-S JA/VLJ a BARROW Patented May 23, 1950'PACKAGING RECEPTACLE WITH LATCHING HANDLE Richard J. Evans and James B.Barrow, Berkeley, Calii'.; said Barrow assignor to said EvansApplication March 2, 1949, Serial No. 79,266

18 Claims.

This invention relates to packaging receptacles made of sheet material,such as paper board, having cover flaps which can be latched in theirclosed positions by means of a readily attachable handle, also formed ofsheet material, by which the receptacle can be carried pendulously. Suchreceptacles are adapted to package bakery products, being easily set upand latched in closed position by a sales clerk, as well as to packagerigid and non-rigid articles.

It is an object of the invention to provide a receptacle that can beproduced economically by being blanked out by a press operation frompaper board or similar sheet material in fiat form in which it can bestacked and shipped, and from which form it can easily and rapidly beset, filled with the article to be packaged, closed and latched in itsclosed position merely by inserting a latching handle of sheet materialinto an aperture provided in one or in two outer cover flaps.

A further object is to provide a packaging receptacle made of sheetmaterial having a bottom and side and end panels, which may be retainedin position by conventional interlocking devices, such as lookingtongues or hooks, or by adhesive, or may be retained in operative position without such locking devices and/or without adhesive, having aninner top closure, such as one or more inner cover flaps or panels, apair of opposed, outer articulated cover flaps or panels disposed toretain the inner closure in its closed position when the flaps arelatched by means of a latching handle, the said handle being rapidly andeasily attachable and effective to latch the outer flaps in operativeposition, whereby the need for wrapping string about the box isobviated.

A further object is to provide a container of the type indicated abovewherein the side walls and end walls, as well as the inner top closure,are retained in operative positions by means of a latching handle madeof sheet material and easily attachable to the receptacle by insertioninto apertures, thereby obviating the need for interlocking devices suchas looking tongues, tabs. hooks, and the like, which are usuallyprovided in paper board receptacles and which require time-consumingmanipulations for assembling the receptacle from a flat blank. Adhesivemay be optionally used, or the latching handle may constitute the soleretaining means. By eliminating such interlocking devices it becomespossible to set up the receptacle and to latch it in its closed positionwith fewer manipulations, and

the required manipulations are of extreme simplicity and adapted eitherto manual or machine packaging operations; it is, moreover, with thisconstruction possible to knock down the receptacle after removal of itscontents with less danger of tearing the sheet material because the tabsand interlocking hooks usual in similar receptacles are absent.Ancillary thereto, it is an object to provide a container wherein thecontents cooperate with the receptacle to maintain it in a closedcondition and in its intended conformation; and to provide such acontainer wherein the inner top closure is articulated and has conjoinedthereto a separator strip which is insertable between contiguous rows ofrigid objects placed within the receptacle for maintaining the topclosure in its proper closed position. A specific object is to providean improved construction for the separator strip on the inner topclosure which facilitates the rapid insertion thereof between contiguousrows of solid objects having a series of void spaces, e. g., rows ofcylindrical cans placed on end.

Still another object is to provide an improved package comprising, incombination, a closed receptacle of sheet material having a bottom, sidewalls and end walls, one or more inner top closure flaps and a pair ofopposed outer closure flaps, with a plurality of rigid articles arrangedwithin the receptacle, the inner top closure flap or flaps beingarticulated and providing a separator strip or separator stripsrespectively conjoined to the flap or flaps and inserted betweencontiguous rows of the rigid articles, the outer closure flaps beingconnected by a latching handle of sheet material which constitutes thesole interlocking means for retaining the receptacle in assembledposition and by which the closed receptacle can be carried pendulously.

Briefly, the receptacle according to the invention comprises a bottom,side walls and end walls conjoined in any desired manner, e. g., foldedfrom a single blank of sheet material or assembled from separate pieces,and having: (a) an inner top closure, e. g., one or more inner closureflaps, which may, if desired, be conjoined to one or to the two opposedside walls; (b) a pair of opposed, outer cover flaps conjoined toopposed end walls and disposed to overlie the inner top closure forretaining it in its closed position, at least one (and, preferably,both) being articulated to provide a conjoined extension tab which isfolded back against the lower face of the flap to provide a folded outermarginal edge for the flap and having an aperture extending to saidfolded edge; and (c) a latching handle of ,7 sheet materialinterconnecting said outer cover flaps and having an intermediate bailportion and an enlarged, laterally projecting support portion at itsfree end or ends adapted to be inserted into the aperture or apertures.While it is possible toform the handle integrally with one of the outercover flaps or to attach it per-' manently to one of such flaps byadhesive or staples, it is preferred to provide a separate latchinghandle which is inserted at both ends into apertures in the two outercover flaps. The handle is made ,of sheet material, which may be thesame as that of which the receptacle walls are made. although in manycases it is desirable to strengthen it by employing several layers ofsuch material for the handle, or by using heavier sheet slightly longerthan he essary to bridge the intervening space and is slidable' withinthe aper ture of the outer cover flap so as to form a bail when liftedat its intermediate portion; this feature may, however, be omitted incertain cases,

as when the handle is used mainly for latching and it is not intendedthat the receptable be carried pendulously. The latching handle forms abar preventing the outer cover flaps from moving to outstandingpositions away from the inner top closure, both when the receptaclecarried pendulously and when it is resting on a. lower support.

The aperture preferably comprises two portions, via, a main cut-outportion and an aperture extension. The former portion is in the form ofa rectangle having the larger side thereof along the folded edge of theouter cover flap and extending back from said edge along the main orouter panel thereof, the width of the main cutout portion (1. e., itsdimension along said edge) being substantially the same as the width ofthe bail portion of the handle near the support portion. The apertureextension is in the form of a slit with juxtaposed edges (i. e., a slitformed without cutting away any part of the sheet material) extendingdiagonally away from the main aperture and from the said folded edge topermit the support portion of the handle to be inserted through thecomposite aperture after .the outer cover flaps have been closed. Theshoulders of the support portions engage the interior of the folded edgewhen tension is placed on the handle. The extension tab on the outercover flap is preferably of a length to extend back overat least themajor portion of the main, outer panel of the flap, e. g., it may have alength substantially the same as the length of the main panel, so as tobear against the inner top closure at all times and to prevent the tabfrom being pulled out from under the main panel when tension is appliedto the handle.

According to a specific embodiment of the invention the entirereceptacle, except the latching handle, is formed of conjoined panelswhich are retained in operative relationship by the top closure andcover flaps and the latching handle, without the usual interlockingdevices. This embodiment is particularly suited for packaging rigidobjects in rows, and for this purpose the inner top closure has one ortwo closure flaps provided with depending separator strips which areinsertable between contiguous rows of such objects, the separator stripson the two flaps being preferably in contact with one another. Tofacilitate insertion of the separator strips between the rows of objectsin instances where such objects present a series of voids (as would bethe case when such objects are cylindrical cans placed on end on thebottom of the receptacle) the separator strips are providedwith serratedouter edges providing apexes opposite the yoids.

The invention will be described more particularly with reference to theaccompanying drawings forming a part of this specification andillustrating two specific embodiments thereof, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a receptacle according to the inventionin closed and latched position;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the blank illustrating the receptacle in itsknocked-down form;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the latching handle;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the receptacle in its open position; IFig. 5 is a plan view of the closed and latched receptacle;

Figs. 6 and 7 are fragmentary, enlarged plan views of the right end ofthe handle showing- Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the package ac--cording to Fig. 8 in partly open position; and

Figs. 11 and 12 are medial longitudinal and transverse sectional viewsof the package in its closed and latched-position.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Figs. 1-6, the receptacleshown is intended particularly as a cake box for use in bakery shops. Itmay be cut from suitable paper board in a single press operation to theoutline shown in Fig. 2 and slit and creased to provide a bottom panell2 to which are conjoined side panels i4 and I5, which may be foldedupwardly along crease lines a to substantially perpendicularrelationship to the bottom, and end panels l6 and [1, which may befolded upwardly along creaselines b to perpendicular relationship to thebottom. Each side panel has a pair of connecting flaps l8 and 19 or l8and I9, which may be folded along crease lines 0 to perpendicularrelationship to their respective conjoined side panels, and extend fromthe crease lines c for distances somewhat more than half of the width ofthe bottom l2 and less than the total width. The flaps l8 and [8' havinglocking hooks 20 and 20' shaped and located to fit into locking slits 2|and the crease line to perpendicular relationship to' the flap 22 forinsertion into the receptacle in juxtaposition with the side wall l whenthe closure flap 22 is closed, the length of the flap 22 (between thecrease lines d and e) being substantially equal to the-width of thebottom l2. The side margins of the flap 22 are defined by crease lines 1beyond which the material is continued as inner tabs 24 and 25 which areflexible along the crease lines to perpendicular relationship to theflap 22 for insertion into the container in juxtaposition with theconnecting flaps i8 and H, or I8 and I9, respectively, when the closureflap is closed.

The outer or top margins of the end panels l3 and I1 are defined bycrease lines g beyond which the material is continued to providearticulated outer cover flaps 26 and 21, each outer cover flap beingarticulated along a crease line h to provide a main cover panel 28 or 29and an extension tab 30 or 3|, the extension tabs being foldable alongthe crease lines h back against the lower faces of the main cover panelsto provide cover flaps of double thickness and to form folded outermarginal edges for said flaps at the crease lines h. It is preferred toform the extension tabs 30 and 3| long enough to extend back under themajor portions of the main panels 28 and 29 and it is advantageous tomake the tabs and panels of substantially the same lengths, so as toprevent the extension tabs from unfolding when the receptacle is in use.It is, of course, convenient to make the extension tabs shorter than thelengths of the main panels by about twice the thickness of the sheetmaterial to facilitate folding. The combined lengths of the outer coverflaps (i. e., the sum of the distances between the crease lines 9 and hof the same flap) is less than the distance between the crease lines 9when the receptacle is assembled, i. e., less than the length of thereceptacle, whereby the outer cover flaps, when folded down against theinner top closure flap 22, are non-overlapping and a portion of the flap22 is exposed between the outer folded edges of the cover flaps 26 and21.

The outer cover flaps 26 and 21 are provided with apertures extending tothe folded edges at h for receiving the latching handle. In the preferred embodiment shown, which greatly facilitates the rapid setting upof the receptacle and prevents accidental disengagement of the latchinghandle, the apertures have elongated main cut-out portions 32 and 33formed by cutting away some of the material from the main panels 28 and29 and having their longer sides coincident with the crease lines It;their lengths, measured away from the crease lines, are small inrelation to their widths, and preferably less than the length of the endsupport portion of the latching handle, to be described; their widthsare substantially equal to the width of the bail portion of the latchinghandle. The apertures further have extension slits 34 and 35 cut at thecorners of the main cut-out portions to lie in prolongation of thediagonals of the main cutout portions, which are substantiallyrectangular. For convenience in latching the receptacle the slits 34 and35 are located on corresponding sides of their respective main cut-outportions, as shown.

The latching handle 36 is made of sheet material, such as paper board ofthe same or, preferably, of heavier substance than that used for thereceptacle walls. The handle has an intermediate, narrow bail portion 31and support portions 38 and 39 at its ends. The support portions eachcomprise one or two laterally projecting tabs; two tabs, as shown, arepreferred to prevent accidental disengagement of the handle. Further,the lengths of the projecting tabs (measured in a direction along thelong axis of the handle) are preferably slightly longer than the lengthof the cut-out portion of the apertures in the outer cover flaps; Theedges of the laterally projecting tabs toward the bail portion aresubstantially in alignment on opposite sides of the handle andperpendicular to the long axis of the handle for uniform engagement withthe interior of the folded edges of the outer cover flaps. The extensionslits 34 and 35 in these flaps are of such lengths that the total widthof the composite aperture exceeds slightly the sum--01 the width of thebail portion and the width of one of the laterally extending tabsforming the support portion, whereby the handle may be inserted throughthe aperture by sliding the handle away from the folded edge after onetab has been inserted into the aperture in a direction laterally awayfrom the extension slit. To permit such preliminary insertion of one tabinto the aperture the outer end of the extension slit should be backfrom the folded edge a distance at least equal to the length of th.laterally projecting tabs on the handle.

To set up the receptacle from the flat form shown in Fig. 2, the blankis placed on a table with the face which will ultimately be the insideface up. The side panels l4 and I5 are folded to upstanding positionsrelative to the bottom l2 along crease lines a and the connecting flapsl8, I8, l9 and I9 are swung inwardly into lapping relationship with eachother and locked together by inserting the locking hooks 20 and 20' intothe locking slits 2| and 2|, respectively. The article to be packaged,e. g., a cake, may be placed on the bottom l2 either at this stage orbefore folding the side panels l4 and i5 to upstanding positions. Thetabs 23, 24 and 25 are then folded to upstanding positions along creaselines e and f and the inner closure flap 22 is closed by flexing alongcrease line d, the tabs 24 and 25 being guided to lie inside of theconnecting flaps and the tab 23 being guided to enter inside of the sidepanel l5. Fig. 4 shows the receptacle during the step of closing theflap 22. The extensions 30 and 3| are then folded back against the innerfaces of the main panels 28 and 29, respectively, (these inner facesbeing still facing up on the table as shown in Fig. 4) along creaselines h. The end panels [6 and H are then folded along crease lines b toupstanding positions relative to the bottom l2 to overlap the connectingflaps and the outer cover flaps 26 and 21 are thereafter folded tohorizontal positions along crease lines 9 to overlie the closure flap22. The extension tabs 30 and 3| are thereby made to lie substantiallyflat against the upper face of the flap 22. The outer cover flaps arefinally latched together by inserting the latching handle into theapertures in the outer cover flaps.

Insertion of the latching handle is accomplished most conveniently byorienting the receptacle so that the slits 34 and 35 extend from themain cut-out portions away from the person assembling the receptacle. Aright-han 5d person then normally first inserts the left end of thehandle by placing the handle across the cover flaps approximately in itsfinal position, as shown in Fig. 5, but displaced away from himself sothat the projecting tab on the support portion 38 nearer him is over thepart of the cover flap auoaooo on the far side of the slit 34 (this partbeing indicated by the reference character 34a). He then places slightdownward pn ssure on the tab and slides the handle toward himself; thisdepresses the portion 34a, leaving the part of the cover fiap on theother side of the slit 34 (designated 34b in the drawing) unaffected andcausing the tab nearer him to slide beneath the latter part of the coverflap. He next slides the handle toward the left until the projecting tabon the handle away from him passes wholly beyond the slit 34; thispermits the part 34a to snap back up. When the handle is then againmoved toward the right the tabs of the support portion remain betweenthe main panel 28 and extension tab 30 and engage the interior of thefolded edge. Pivotal motion of the handle will not dislodge itthereafter. The operator next inserts the right end of the handle intothe aperture 33--35 by similar operations: The support portion 39 isfirst placed just beyond the slit 35 and then slid downward toward theoperator as shown in Fig. 6, whereby the laterally projecting tab nearerthe operator slides beneath the part of the cover flap on the side ofthe slit 35 nearer him (designated 35b in the drawing) while the handleis pressed downward against the part 35a. When this sliding movement iscompleted the handle is in the position shown in Fig. 7, with the sideof the bail portion in engagement with the side of the cut-out portion34. The operator next slides the handle to the right for a distancesufficient to move the support portion 39 entirely beyond the slit 35;this permits the part 35a to snap up and the support portion of thehandle will remain beneath it when tension is placed thereon, causing itto engage the interior of the folded edge.

It should be noted that the handle 35 is long enough to space the neareredges of the support portions 38 and 39 farther apart than the distancebetween the folded edges; this permits the necessary endwise motiondescribed above for the handle-inserting operation and permits thehandle to be raised to form a bail. When the receptacle is suspended bythe handle the outer edges of the outer cover flaps are raised slightlyfrom the inner cover flap but the extension tabs 30 and 3| continue toexert downward pressure on the flap 22 to retain it in closed position.Contact of these tabs with the flap 22 further prevents the tabs fromunfolding when tension is placed on the handle. The handle can be slidinwardly through the apertures to assume a position flat against theinner flap 22.

In the modified embodiment illustrated in Figs. 8-12 the receptacle issimilarly cut from paper board and slit and creased to provide a bottom40 to which are conjoined side panels 4| and 42 which may be foldedupwardly along crease lines m to substantially perpendicularrelationship to the bottom, and end panels 43 and 44, which may befolded upwardly along crease lines 11 to similar relationship to thebottom. Each side panel has a pair of end flaps 45, which may be foldedalong crease lines o to perpendicular relationship to their respectiveconjoined side panels, and which extend from the crease lines o fordistances somewhat more than half of the width of the bottom 40. Theouter or top margins of the side panels 4| and 42 are defined by creaselines p beyond which the material is continued as inner top closureflaps 46 and 41, the outer margins of which are defined by crease linesq. The lflno'ths of the flaps 46 and 41 (i. e., the distances betweenthe crease lines p and q) are such that the sum of their lengths equalsthe width of the bottom 40, so that the two margins defined by the linesq are in juxtaposition when the inner cover flaps are closed. Theseouter margins should meet above a boundary between-contiguous rows ofsolid articles packaged in the receptacle. In the specific embodimentillustrated, the package contains two rows of cylindrical cans 48 andthe boundary between these rows is a medial, vertical, longitudinalplane. Beyond the fold linesq the material is continued to provideseparator strips 49 and 50 which may be folded along the said creaselines to depending perpendicular relationship to their T881380: tiveclosure flaps for insertion between the contiguous rows of cans. Tofacilitate such insertion the strips 49 and 5B are provided withserrated outer edges having apexes 5| and 52. These apexes areadvantageously located in relation to the shape and number of solidarticles to be packaged so as to be in alignment with void spacesbetween such articles. Thus, as shown in the drawing, each row maycontain three cylindrical cans standing on end, thereby providing twovertical void spaces along the boundary between the rows, and the apexes5| and 52 are positioned to enter these void spaces.

The outer or top margins of the end panels 43 and 44 are defined bycrease lines 1' beyond which the material is continued to providearticulated outer cover fiaps 53 and 54, corresponding to the coverfiaps 26 and 21 of the previously de-v scribed embodiment and similarlyarticulated along crease lines s to provide main cover panels 55 and 56and extension tabs 51 and 58 which are folded under the main panels toprovide outer cover flaps of double thickness and form outer marginalfolded edges for the flaps. The dimensions of these extension tabs inrelation to the main cover panels are as was described 'for the previousembodiment, and apertures of like eonstruction are provided, consistingof main cutout portions 59 and 60 of rectangular shapes and slits 6i and62 forming diagonal aperture extensions for accommodating the laterallypro-. jecting support portions of a latching handle such as is shown inFig. 3, but of a length to fit the blank according to Fig. 9.

To set up the receptacle and latch it in its closed position to form apackage, the blank form shown in Fig. 9 is placed on a fiat table withthe side which is to form the interior facing up. The rigid articles tobe packaged, e. g., six cylindrical cans 48, are placed on the bottom 49and the side panels 4| and 42 are folded to upstanding positionsrelative to the bottom; theinner top closure flaps 46 and 41 are thenfolded down onto the tops of the cans 48 and the conjoined separatorstrips 49 and 50 are inserted between the two rows of cans. Fig. 10shows the receptacle with the inner top closure flap 41 folded down andthe flap 46 still in raised position. The end flaps 45 are next swunginwardly against the end cans in the rows and into lapping relationshipwith each other. The extension tabs 51 and 58 are then folded alongcrease lines s back against the inner (and, at the moment, upwardlyfacing); faces of the main panels 55 and 56. These po-i sitions of theflaps 45 and of the extension tabs 51 and 58 are also shown in Fig. 10.Thereafter the end panels 43 and 44 are folded along crease lines 21 toupstanding positions relative to the bottom 40 to overlap the end flaps45 and the outer cover flaps 53 and 54 are thereafter folded inwardly tohorizontal positions along crease lines 1' to overlie the inner topclosure flaps 46 and '41. The extension tabs 51 and 58 are thereby madeto lie flat against the upper facesof the inner top closure flaps forretaining them in engagement with the tops of the cans 48 and therebyretaining the separator strips 49 and 50 in inserted position betweenthe rows of cans. The handle 36 is then inserted into the apertures 59,60, 8! and 62 in the manner previously described to complete the packageand bringit to the con ditions illustrated in Figs. 8, 11 and 12.

It should be noted that in the second embodiment the end flaps 45 do nothave interlocking tongues or the like, and that the latching handle 36constitutes the sole interlocking means for retaining the package inassembled condition.-

No other retaining means are required for structural reasons; however,since the end panels 43 and 44 normally separate slightly from the flaps45 when there is no tension on the handle it may be desirable, mainlyfor improving the appearance, to apply some adhesive, such as glue, atselected points, e. g., on the flaps 45 and end panels 43 and 44. Thepackage may be assembled with a minimum of operations regardless ofwhether an adhesive is applied, and the adhesive is not essential to thelatching of the package.

We claim as our invention:

1. A packaging receptacle formed of sheet material comprising a bottom,side walls and end walls; an inner top closure; a' pair of outer coverflaps conjoined to the end walls and located to overlie said inner topclosure, at least one outer flap having a main panel and a conjoinedexten- 3'5 sion tab folded back against the lower face of the main panelto provide a folded outer marginal edge for the flap, the combinedlengths of said outer flaps being less than the length of the receptaclebetween said end walls, whereby the outer margins of said flaps arenon-overlapping and spaced apart when said flaps are folded against theinner top closure; an aperture in said one outer flap at said foldededge; and a latching handle of sheet material connecting said outerflaps and secured thereto. said handle having an intermediate bailportion and a laterally projecting support portion at least at the endtoward said one outer flap and being retentively secured to said oneouter flap by being inserted into said a erture for engagement of saidsupport portion with the inner face of the flap.

2. The receptacle according to claim 1 where- 'in the width ofthe-aperture at said folded edge of the outer flap is substantiallyequal to the width of the bail portion of the handle near the supportportion thereof, whereby said support portion engages the interior ofthe folded edge when tension is placed on the handle.

3. The receptacle according to claim 2 wherein the length of theextension tab on the outer flap is substantially equal to the length ofthe main panel of said flap.

4. The receptacle according to claim 1 wherein the aperture comprises amain cut-out portion and an aperture extension, the main cutout portionbeing adjacent to said folded edge of the outer flap and having a widthsubstantially equal to the width of the bail portion of the handle nearthe support portion thereof, and the aperture extension being inclinedaway from said folded edge and extending laterally from the main cut-outportion and having a length sufficient to permit the support portion ofthe handle to be inserted through the composite aperture.

5. The receptacle according to claim 4 wherein the main cut-out portionof the aperture is substantially rectangular. with its longer dimensionparallel to said folded edge and the aperture extension is a slit havingjuxtaposed edges and substantially aligned with a diagonal of saidrectangle.

6. The receptacle according to claim 1 wherein the side and end wallsare secured together by interlocking tongues conjoined to certain ofsaid walls, and the inner top closure comprises a single flapconjoined'to said side wall at the top margin thereof and extending tothe opposite side wall and having one or more extension tabs forinsertion into the receptacle in juxtaposition with said walls.

'7. The receptacle according to claim 1 where'- in the inner top closurecomprises a flap conjoined to said side walls at the top margin thereofhaving its outer margin intermediate the side walls when in its closedposition and having a separator strip conjoined to the outer marginthereof and extending downwardly from said top closure into thereceptacle for engagement between rows of rigid objects packaged in thereceptacle.

8. The receptacle according to claim '1 wherein the separator strip hasa serrated outer edge with apexes spaced apart in relation to the natureof said rigid objects to enter void spaces between said rows.

9. The receptacle according to claim 1 wherein the inner top closurecomprises a pair of flaps conjoined to opposed side walls at the topmargins thereof of lengths to have their outer margins in juxtapositionat a longitudinal line intermediate said side walls'when said flaps arein closed positions, and a separator strip conjoined to each of saidflaps of the inner top closure at said outer margins thereof, saidseparator strips extending downwardly intothe receptacle and side byside for engagement between rows of rigid objects packaged in thereceptacle. I

10. A packaging receptacle formed of sheet material comprising a bottom,side walls and end walls; an inner top closure conjoined to a side wallat the top margin thereof: a pair of outer cover flaps conjoined to theend walls at the top margins thereof and located to overlie the innertop closure, each of said outer flaps having a main panel and aconjoined extension tab folded back against the lower face of itsrespective main panel to form a folded outer marginal edge for the flap,the combined lengths of said main panels being less than the distancebetween the top margins of said end walls, whereby the said folded edgesare non-overlapping and spaced apart when said flaps are folded againstthe inner top closure; an aperture in each outer flap at the folded edgethereof; and a latching handle of sheet material having an intermediatebail portion and a laterally projecting support portion at each end ofsaid ball portion connecting said outer flaps and retentively securedthereto by insertion of said support portions into said apertures, thewidth of the aperture at said folded edge being substantially equal tothe width of the bail portion of the handle near the support portionsthereof, whereby said support portions engage the interiors of thefolded edges when tension is placed on the handle.

11. The receptacle according to claim 10 wherein each of the aperturescomprises a main asoaeoe ll cut-out portion and an aperture extension,both of sald'portions being in the main panels of the outer cover flaps,the main cut-out portions,

being adjacent their respective folded edges and being elongated alongsaid folded edges, said main portions having their greatest dimensionsless than the width of the support portion of the handle, and theaperture extensions being inclined away from said folded edges andhaving lengths suiiicient to permit the support portions of the handleto be inserted through the composite apertures.

12. The receptacle according to claim 11 wherein the aperture extensionson the two outer flaps are on the corresponding sides of the maincut-out portions.

13. The receptacle according to claim wherein the length of the handlebetween the support portions thereof is slightly greater than thedistance between said folded edges when the outer flaps are foldedagainst said inner top closure, whereby said support portions may, afterinsertion through the apertures, be slid inwardly and away from saidfolded edges to cause the handle to lie flat on the inner top closure inone position of the handle, and may be pulled outwardly through saidapertures until the support portions engage the interiors of the foldededges to raise the bail portion of the handle from the inner top closurein a second position of the handle.

14. A packaging receptacle formed of sheet material comprising a bottom,side walls and end walls; an inner top closure conjoined to a side wallat the top margin thereof; a pair of outer cover flaps conjoined to theend walls at the top margins thereof and located to overlie the innertop closure, each of said outer flaps having a main panel and aconjoined extension tab of substantially the same length as the mainpanel and folded back against the lower face of its respective mainpanel to form a folded outer marginal edge for the flap, the combinedlengths of said main panels being less than the distance between the topmargins of said end walls, whereby the said folded edges arenon-overlapping and spaced apart when said flaps are folded against theinner top closure; an aperture in the main panel of each outer flapextending to the folded edge thereof; and a latching handle of sheetmaterial having an intermediate bail portion and a laterally projectingsupport portion at each end of said bail portion connecting said outerflaps and retentively secured thereto by insertion of said supportportions into said apertures, the width of the aperture at said foldededge being substantially equal to the width of the bail portion of thehandle near the support portion thereof and the length of said handlebetween said support portions being slightly greater than the distancebetween said folded edges when the outer flaps are folded against saidinner top closure, whereby said handie may be slid inwardly through theapertures after insertion of the support portion therethrough to causethe handle to lie flat on the inner top closure in one position of thehandle and may be pulled outwardly through said apertures until thesupport portions engage the interiors of said folded edges to raise thebail portion of the handle from the inner top closure in a secondposition of the handle, each of said apertures having a substantiallyrectangular main cut-out portion and an extension mension of saidrectangle being along said folded edge and the extension slit beinginclined away from the folded edge and laterally from said main cut-outportion and of length sufficient to permit the support portion of thehandle to be inserted through the composite aperture.

15. A packaging receptacle comprising a blank sheet of material creasedfor folding to form a receptacle having a bottom panel with a side panelconjoined to each of its side margins and flexible to upstandingposition therefrom and an end panel conjoined to each of its end marginsand flexible to upstanding position therefrom; an inner top closure flapconjoined to the top margin of at least one side panel and flexible tohorizontal position; an outer course flap conjoined to the top margin ofeach end panel and flexible to horizontal position overlying the innertop closure flap, each of said outer closure flaps having a main paneljuxtaposed to a respective end panel and an extension tab conjoined torespective outer margins of the main panels remote from said end panelsand flexible to folded positions back against the lower faces of therespective main panels to provide folded outer edges for said outerflaps at said outer margins thereof, the combined lengths of said mainpanels being less than the length of said receptacle at its top, wherebythe said folded edges are non-overlapping and spaced apart when theouter flaps are folded down onto the inner top closure flap, and anaperture in each outer closure flap having a main aperture portionextending along said folded edge and retentively engageable with thesupport portions of a latching handle of sheet material having anintermediate bail portion of width substantially equal to the width ofthe main aperture portion and having laterally projecting supportportions at the ends of said ball portion, said apertures havingdiagonal aperture extensions extending from said main aperture portionsand spaced from said folded edge having lengths suflicient to permit thesupport portion of the handle to be inserted through the compositeaperture.

16. A packaging receptacle comprising a blank of sheet material creasedfor folding to form a receptacle having a bottom panel with a side panelconjoined to each of its side margins-and flexible to upstandingpositions therefrom and an end panel conjoined to each of its endmargins and flexible to upstanding position therefrom; an inner topclosure flap conjoined to the respective top margins of the side panelsand flexible to horizontal positions and of lengths to bring their outermargins into juxtaposition along a line intermediate said side wallswhen folded to horizontal positions; a partition strip conjoined to eachof said outer margins of the inner top closure flaps and flexible todepending positions therefrom; an outer closure flap conjoined to thetop margin of each end panel and flexible to horizontal positionoverlying the said inner top closure flaps, each of said outer to arespective end panel and an extension tab conjoined to respective outermargins of the main panels remote from said end panels and flexible tofolded positions back against the lower faces of the respective mainpanels to provide folded outer edges for said outer flaps at said outermargins thereof, the combined lengths of said main panels being lessthan the length of the receptacle at its top, whereby said slit withjuxtaposed side walls, the longer (11- 76 folded edges are non-overlappn and sp c d apart when the outer flaps are folded down onto the innerclosure flaps, and an aperture in each outer closure flap extending tosaid folded edge for retentively engaging a latching handle of sheetmaterial having an intermediate bail portion and a laterally projectingsupport portion at the ends of said bail portion and insertible intosaid apertures for engagement with the interiors of said folded edges.

17. The receptacle according to claim 16 wherein said separator stripshave serrated outer edges with apexes spaced apart to enter separatevoid spaces along a boundary between contiguous rows of solid objectspackaged in said receptacle.

18. A package comprising a receptacle made of a blank of sheet materialand enclosing a plurality of rows of rigid objects presenting alongitudinal boundary between contiguous rows, said blank having abottom panel with a side panel conjoined to each of its side margins andfolded to upstanding positions therefrom and an end panel conjoined toeach of its end mar gins and folded to upstanding positions therefrom;an end flap conjoined to each end margin of each side panel and foldedin lapping positions across the ends of said rows of rigid objects andinside of said end panels, said rows extending parallel to said sidepanels; an inner top closure flap conjoined to the respective topmargins of the side panels and folded to horizontal positions closelyoverlying said rigid objects, said flaps having lengths to bring theirouter margins into juxtaposition above a boundary between contiguousrows of said objects; a partition strip conjoined to each of said outermargins of the inner top closure flaps and folded to depending positionbetween said contiguous rows of objects; an outer closure flap conjoinedto the top margin of each end panel 4 and folded to horizontal positionoverlying the said inner top closure flaps and having a main paneljuxtaposed to a respective end panel and an extension tab conjoined to arespective outer margin of a main panel remote from its end panel andfolded back against the lower face of its rwpective main panel, thelengths of the extension tabs being suflicient to extend back from theresulting folded outer edges of the flaps for the major portion of thelengths of said main panels, the combined lengths of said main panelsbeing less than the length of said re ceptacle at its top, whereby thesaid folded edges are non-overlapping and spaced apart when the outerflaps are folded down against the inner closure flaps; an aperture ineach main panel of the outer closure flaps having a main apertureportion extending to said folded edge and a diagonal aperture extensioninclined away from the main aperture and laterally of said main apertureportion; and a latching handle of sheet material having an intermediatebail portion and laterally projecting support portions at each end ofsaid bail portion connecting said outer flaps and retentively securedthereto by insertion of said support portions into said apertures. thewidth of the main aperture portion being substantially equal to thewidth of the bail portion of the handle near the support portion thereofand the length of the aperture extension being sufficient to permit thesupport portion to be inserted through the composite aperture, saidouter flaps and latching handle being the sole interlocking meansretainingthe package in assembled position.

RICHARD J. EVANS. JAMES B. BARROW.

No references cited.

